CWA was established by its members to:
• Promote the benefits of community woodlands and represent the interests of community woodland groups within the political arena and to the wider world and
• Support established and new community woodland groups in achieving their aspirations and full potential.
Our work with member groups covers a wide range of activities:
1) We support new groups to form, providing advice & assistance with:
• finding appropriate organisational structures,
• engaging with their communities,
• understanding & complying with regulatory process,
• understanding & accessing the funding streams available.
2) We support groups to acquire land/assets, providing advice & assistance with:
• understanding tenure options,
• understanding and using the mechanisms for community acquisition (e.g. National Forest Land Scheme, Community Right to Buy),
• developing plans through feasibility studies, community consultation,
• understanding and accessing funding, and fundraising.
3) We support groups to manage & develop land/assets, providing advice & assistance with:
• forest management planning,
• developing access and recreation proposals,
• environmental management,
• increasing the economic value of woodland, e.g. developing woodfuel supply,
• developing arts, health, education and employment projects.
4) We provide information and networking services:
• a range of publications: our biannual magazine Woodland Voices, quarterly e-newsletter, monthly e-bulletin, facebook page, etc,
• organising the annual national conference and regional networking events,
• encouraging and organising peer-to-peer exchange visits across the network.
5) We organise training events covering a wide curriculum, from forestry to governance, communication to environmental management. Wherever possible we involve member groups in the organisation and management of these events.
